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The differences between alumni relations coordinators and public relations specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an alumni relations coordinator and a public relations specialist. Additionally, a public relations specialist has an average salary of $48,124, which is higher than the $44,215 average annual salary of an alumni relations coordinator.
The top three skills for an alumni relations coordinator include alumni relations, powerpoint and alumni events. The most important skills for a public relations specialist are press releases, web content, and project management.
| Alumni Relations Coordinator | Public Relations Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $44,215 | $48,124 |
| Hourly rate | $21.26 | $23.14 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 33,389 | 29,698 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An alumni relations coordinator is in charge of spearheading and overseeing alumni activities and services. Their responsibilities include organizing events such as reunions and fundraisers, liaising with vendors and suppliers, arranging meetings, and handling calls and correspondence. They may also maintain documents, answer inquiries, disseminate information and invitations, create alumni programs and projects, and develop strategies to optimize operations. Furthermore, as a coordinator, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with team members while implementing the institution's policies and regulations.
A public relations specialist is an individual who creates and maintains a favorable public image of an organization by crafting media releases and developing social media programs. Public relations specialists must help their clients communicate effectively with the public as well as evaluate the public opinion of their clients through social media. They need to draft their press releases and contact people in the media who might want to broadcast their materials. Public relations specialists are also required to draft speeches and arrange interviews for the top executives of their organization.
Alumni relations coordinators and public relations specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Alumni Relations Coordinator | Public Relations Specialist | |
| Average salary | $44,215 | $48,124 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $64,000 | Between $33,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Washington |
| Best paying company | Ropes & Gray | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Finance |
There are a few differences between an alumni relations coordinator and a public relations specialist in terms of educational background:
| Alumni Relations Coordinator | Public Relations Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 81% |
| Most common major | Business | Communication |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between alumni relations coordinators' and public relations specialists' demographics:
| Alumni Relations Coordinator | Public Relations Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.2% Female, 72.8% | Male, 30.3% Female, 69.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |